Insights into the bilateral cortical control of human masticatory muscles revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation. 2007

Michael A Nordstrom
Research Centre for Human Movement Control & School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. michael.nordstrom@adelaide.edu.au

In this brief review I describe details of the functional organisation of the bilateral corticobulbar projections to the trigeminally innervated masticatory muscles, as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human brain. The motor cortices of both hemispheres are involved in control of trigeminal motoneurons, however the contralateral hemisphere has the greater excitatory influence. Corticomotoneuronal cells in each hemisphere project to jaw-closer and jaw-opener motoneurons. Less is known about cortically mediated inhibitory effects in the trigeminal motor system, but the available evidence suggests that drive to jaw muscles on each side is affected similarly by intracortical inhibitory processes activated in one hemisphere. Functional studies reveal that the two hemispheres play distinct roles in control of ipsilateral and contralateral muscles, particularly for jaw-closers. Masseter and digastric motor units recruited during low-force contractions do not receive uniform inputs from each hemisphere; the majority of masseter motor units are excited only from the contralateral hemisphere, and while digastric motor units are usually excited from both hemispheres the direct CM cell influence appears to be augmented on the contralateral side by corticobulbar activation of segmental excitatory interneurons. Differences in bilateral cortical control of jaw-closer and jaw-opener muscles may contribute to the more independent control of jaw-closers on each side during functional tasks. Corticobulbar control of the trigeminal muscles during natural tasks such as chewing and speech remains to be investigated with TMS.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008409 Mastication The act and process of chewing and grinding food in the mouth. Chewing
D008410 Masticatory Muscles Muscles arising in the zygomatic arch that close the jaw. Their nerve supply is masseteric from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Masticatory Muscle,Muscle, Masticatory,Muscles, Masticatory
D009044 Motor Cortex Area of the FRONTAL LOBE concerned with primary motor control located in the dorsal PRECENTRAL GYRUS immediately anterior to the central sulcus. It is comprised of three areas: the primary motor cortex located on the anterior paracentral lobule on the medial surface of the brain; the premotor cortex located anterior to the primary motor cortex; and the supplementary motor area located on the midline surface of the hemisphere anterior to the primary motor cortex. Brodmann Area 4,Brodmann Area 6,Brodmann's Area 4,Brodmann's Area 6,Premotor Cortex and Supplementary Motor Cortex,Premotor and Supplementary Motor Cortices,Anterior Central Gyrus,Gyrus Precentralis,Motor Area,Motor Strip,Precentral Gyrus,Precentral Motor Area,Precentral Motor Cortex,Premotor Area,Premotor Cortex,Primary Motor Area,Primary Motor Cortex,Secondary Motor Areas,Secondary Motor Cortex,Somatic Motor Areas,Somatomotor Areas,Supplementary Motor Area,Area 4, Brodmann,Area 4, Brodmann's,Area 6, Brodmann,Area 6, Brodmann's,Area, Motor,Area, Precentral Motor,Area, Premotor,Area, Primary Motor,Area, Secondary Motor,Area, Somatic Motor,Area, Somatomotor,Area, Supplementary Motor,Brodmann's Area 6s,Brodmanns Area 4,Brodmanns Area 6,Central Gyrus, Anterior,Cortex, Motor,Cortex, Precentral Motor,Cortex, Premotor,Cortex, Primary Motor,Cortex, Secondary Motor,Cortices, Secondary Motor,Gyrus, Anterior Central,Gyrus, Precentral,Motor Area, Precentral,Motor Area, Primary,Motor Area, Secondary,Motor Area, Somatic,Motor Areas,Motor Cortex, Precentral,Motor Cortex, Primary,Motor Cortex, Secondary,Motor Strips,Precentral Motor Areas,Precentral Motor Cortices,Premotor Areas,Primary Motor Areas,Primary Motor Cortices,Secondary Motor Area,Secondary Motor Cortices,Somatic Motor Area,Somatomotor Area,Supplementary Motor Areas
D009046 Motor Neurons Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS. Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014278 Trigeminal Nuclei Nuclei of the trigeminal nerve situated in the brain stem. They include the nucleus of the spinal trigeminal tract (TRIGEMINAL NUCLEUS, SPINAL), the principal sensory nucleus, the mesencephalic nucleus, and the motor nucleus. Trigeminal Nuclear Complex,Nuclear Complex, Trigeminal,Nuclear Complices, Trigeminal,Nuclei, Trigeminal,Nucleus, Trigeminal,Trigeminal Nuclear Complices,Trigeminal Nucleus
D050781 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation A technique that involves the use of electrical coils on the head to generate a brief magnetic field which reaches the CEREBRAL CORTEX. It is coupled with ELECTROMYOGRAPHY response detection to assess cortical excitability by the threshold required to induce MOTOR EVOKED POTENTIALS. This method is also used for BRAIN MAPPING, to study NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, and as a substitute for ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY for treating DEPRESSION. Induction of SEIZURES limits its clinical usage. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Paired Pulse,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Repetitive,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Single Pulse,Magnetic Stimulation, Transcranial,Magnetic Stimulations, Transcranial,Stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic,Stimulations, Transcranial Magnetic,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulations

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